Black Friday

One day a year, stores open their doors before God awakens to bring in shoppers and make Black Friday the most profitable day of the year. The problem is, the crazies come out of the woodwork. This year, a 73 year old woman was trampled in Southern Florida, a fight had to be broken up in a Wal-Mart, and a pregnant lady was run over before being taken to the hospital. This happens every year, and every year we are shocked and appalled that the businesses did not provide enough security in the store to protect the customers.

As John Stossel would say, "Give me a break!" Do you stand in the street during the Running of the Bulls and sue the government when they did not provide enough protection? Of course not. (But if you do, call John Edwards.) Black Friday is known for its rough-housing, trampling, and tackling in order to get that last Tickle-Me-Elmo. (Have you seen Jingle All the Way?) It shouldn't be surprising that at 5AM on the day following Thanksgiving, it's everyone out for themselves. It should not be the primary interest of the companies to provide protection for the customers from the customers. That should be secondary to the protection of their own merchandise and store.

So, I have some advice to all of those who want good deals for Christmas (or the Holiday Season for you secularists). The internet is a useful tool. If you can't hang with the big dogs, stay in your PJ's. And if you do feel up to throwing elbows to grab that last XBOX 360 at $399, don't complain when you come home to little Billy with a bloodstain on your blouse. I'm sure he'd appreciate the effort and injury for the hours he'll sit in front of the TV playing Call of Duty 2.

Thanksgiving Day

Michelle Malkin touched me with her new article, The Thankful Tree. I thought I'd list a few things I'm thankful for today.

-For the little stuff we take for granted every day: Cell phones, computers, automobiles, pain releiver, running faucets, etc. I use stuff like this on a daily basis and rarely do I realize the importance of the little luxuries that make my life run smoother.

-For the tiniest of gestures: It goes so far when someone looks me straight in the eye and offers a sincere compliment, handshake, or appreciation.

-For family: Near and far. From my past-family of the 19th MMC to my immediate family to my wife. I am so very grateful I have these wonderful people in my life.

-For capitalism and democracy: I've been marveling at the opportunities these great forms of economy and government offer. Each have their flaws, but nothing is better than having the freedom of decision, wherever it may be in the world.

-For my heritage: I know litte about my ancestors, but somewhere down the line, someone made some good choices that came to create one of the greatest people I know - me.

-For my wife: There's nothing I love more than going on the occasional date with the woman I've devoted my life to.

-For the troops: In and out of harms way. All people who stand up to defend this great country of mine deserve the most sincere thanks for their service and sacrifice in the name of what is right.

-For those who support the troops by supporting the mission: The people who actually support, fund, and agree with what the troops do are nearly as brave and noble as those who serve.

-For the turkey: Thank you gobbles, for giving your life so that I can chew on your flesh and muscle. You sure were tasty.

Deuce Four Returns Home

I've been following Michael Yon's coverage of the war in Iraq for the last six months or so. The unit he ran with just returned home and their ceremony link is deserving of this single blog-post. Those men deserve so much more. Please check it out. It almost brought me to tears.

Thank you, gentlemen... Hooah.

Today's Links

Here's a snippet of what I've been checking out around the web.

A 15 year-old boy in Southern Nepal has reportedly been fasting for six months under a tree. Some are calling him the "new Buddha." Once again, I question the validity of one religion because of the miraculous highlights of another. Hey, it could be true. You never know.

As if the iPod Shuffle isn't easy enough to lose, Apple may introduce an even tinier one in January. Let me get this straight. Apple has 5 generations of the iPod, an iPod mini, iPod nano, and iPod shuffle. Now, they're coming out with a smaller one after the Christmas season is over? Maybe Apple should spend more time manipulating the new video option and Mactell computers they have coming out 1st Quarter '06. And where are the iPod-to-Mac switcher commercials we were promised? Just a thought.

Drudge has put together a montage of audio clips that are good for a quick laugh and rolling of the eyes. They are quotes of Democrats rationalizing and pushing for a harder war on terror, to include Iraq.

ABC News has a story about Iran and its nuclear (or is it nuculer?) weapons program. Apparently, they have an "'extensive large-scale operation' for the development of nuclear-capable missiles 'in the most sophisticated, hidden way' in tunnels in a mountain range east of Tehran." Scary...

Looks like we "just missed" al-Zarqawi in Mosul. News sources originally said we got him, but the Pentagon halted the rumors. Strategically, however, if I had the leading terror mastermind in custody (or dead), I wouldn't reveal it. The information gained from him if he was alive could prove useful in putting a swift end to the insurgency. If we knew he was dead and his followers didn't get the memo, that could be to the coalition's advantage as well.

And a final question: Is tickling a form of torture? If you consider it a form of torture, would you oppose it being used on suspected terrorists to gain information about future attacks? I will post my opinion when others respond.

It's About Damn Time

For nearly a year, the Left has been shooting at the lame duck that is our presidential administration. It was inspiring to see on Veteran's Day that lame duck stand up, lick its wounds, shake off the bruises, grab its sawed-off, and take aim.

The attacks from the Left came heavy and hard back in the summer following the death of Chief Justice Rhenquist. President Bush nominated right-of-center Judge Roberts to the Supreme Court. The Democrats put up opposition and the "gang of 14" settled what could have been a waste of taxpayers dollars. Noticing the Bush Administration was still high on last November's re-election, the Left went on the offensive and took every shot they could. (I don't blame 'em. Good play, Dems. Good play.) It was frustrating for the Right to see the White House not defending themselves.

Katrina and other hurricane coverage brought the next onslaught of attacks. Mayor Ray Nagin, Sen. Mary Landrue, and Gov. Kathleen Blanco all took heavy blows at Bush and Friends. It was surely rough. Sen. Hillary Clinton even called for an investigation of what went wrong with the administration's actions (or lack of) prior, during, and after Katrina. Then there was FEMA director Mike Brown.

In the midst of all of this, Bush made the fatal mistake of pissing off his base, the group soley responsible for his second term and his approval rating not being lower than that of Teddy Kennedy's at a Mary Jo Kopechne Memorial Service - He appointed Harriet Miers to replace Justice O'Conner on the black-robed bench. Not only did the Left whine, but the Right put up a fight too. Bush's ratings sank lower than Mary Jo in the Chappaquiddick. After a few weeks of his base screaming for him to appoint someone more qualified (such as a UC Basketball convict), Miers stepped down and Sam Alito was propped up to take the place of O'Conner. Now, Sen. Harry Reid and others are saying a fillibuster might just happen in January.

As if all of that wasn't enough, Sen. Reid shut down the Senate to investigate the reasons for going to war in 2003. The Dems used everything they had to further tarnish the administration's image. This is where we heed our miniature history lesson.

On November 11th, Bush shocked the political nerds by actually defending the war on terror (and for those who see it as something separate - the war in Iraq). But it wasn't just the same "stay the course... we're doing well... c'mon, stick with me guys" mantra. He railed against his critics that once supported the mission in Iraq, but are now not only voting against funding for it, but regretting (Fmr. Sen. John Edwards) their vote.

Bush said, "Many of these critics supported my opponent during the last election, who explained his position to support the resolution in the Congress this way: 'When I vote to give the president of the United States the authority to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein, it is because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a threat and a grave threat to our security.'" and "These baseless attacks send the wrong signal to our troops and to an enemy that is questioning America's will."

Bush wasn't the only one taking aim, Cheney took cue as well, "The President and I cannot prevent certain politicians from losing their memory, or their backbone – but we’re not going to sit by and let them rewrite history.
We’re going to continue throwing their own words back at them. And far more important, we’re going to continue sending a consistent message to the men and women who are fighting the war on terror in Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other fronts." Others of the White House have made similar remarks to the Today Show, Meet the Press, and other media outlets.

It's about damn time Bush finished running his 2004 victory lap and realized his legacy and image was in jeopardy. But it goes much deeper than that. By not pointing out the achievements of our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the war on terror, they are neglecting to show unlimited support for our troops. It was definitely sad to see the mission veterans fought for being under-publicized, not just by the mainstream media, but by our Commander in Chief. These counter-attacks by Bush, Cheney, and other insiders shows that they are not to be reckoned with in rhetoric. They have always cared about the troops and the war on terror, but it's sad that it took low approval ratings to grab this administration's attention.

Keep it up, gentlemen. Not just for my love of the political cat-fight, but for the veterans of the war on terror and the America-lovers.

Coulter, Clinton, & Jarhead

It's time for another review.

I finished reading Condi vs. Hillary by Dick Morris last month. I was seeking a somewhat unbias review of the strenghts and weaknesses of each of the supposedly future candidates. But, I got less from a guy who wrote Rewriting History, a continuous assault on Mrs. Clinton. Morris pumps up Condi as a superhero who has never done a wrong and Hillary as a two-faced liar who stuck by her husband only to get into his position a decade down the line. Having read Condi: The Condoleezza Rice Story, I didn't learn much about Rice. I did, however, learn quite a bit of Hillary's lies and her willingness to do anything to get into office. If you're looking for a book that looks into the crystal ball with bias glasses, pick up Condi vs. Hillary. If a review on the future of two competing candidates is what you're looking for, read Condi: The Condoleezza Rice Story and The Case For Hillary. 4/5 stars

After work on opening night, I caught the 11:30 showing of Jarhead. It was my first experience with Jamie Foxx and was presently surprised. I expected more from the American Beauty director, Sam Mendes. According to Slate.com, he copied the book to film. Critics say looking at the movie from afar, the translation of the book gives the movie the extra pop. Normal viewers will see it as a movie where nothing happens. It was definitely worth my $7.00 and am willing to see it in the theater again. I give praise to any movie that brings tears to my eyes. 4/5 stars.

Instead of buying Is it True What They Say About Ann?, I asked the library to purchase it for their collection. I'm happy to say that the tax-payers paid for a movie about Ann Coulter. I'm definitely a fan and enjoyed every minute listening to her wit. She's easy on the eyes too. The movie, however, was poorly made and only lasted 40 minutes. The creators did nothing to push an agenda or make a point. It was a collection of Ann's speeches, writings, and interviews. I love Ann, but I'm glad the 26 bucks didn't come out of my pocket. 2/5 stars.

Today's Quick Hits

Here are some of the things I've been reading or watching today.

“iPod finger” and “Blackberry thumb” have apparently joined the list of repetitive strain injuries. I've already called John Edwards to represent me in a law suit against Apple.

Intelligence officials announced the creation of the Open Source Center, to analyze information from the Web, newspapers and other unclassified sources around the world. Good idea, if you ask me. But then again, who did?

An Italian documentary claims white phosphorus was used against insurgents in the assault on Fallujah. It's an interesting documentary. Check out the WMP video here. (Warning: Not for the weak.)

British Parlaiment voted against the will of PM Blair and did not extend detention without a criminal charge from 14 to 28 days. It is said this will have a giant effect on the stay of Blair.

If you haven't seen the November 2nd "World Can't Wait" protest pictures, check them out. It's worth a chuckle.

T.O. Gets Canned

I'm not a big football fan, but I'll do my best to give decent commentary on the T.O. problem (or the problem with T.O.)

There's no doubt Terrell Owens is good. In just seven games this season, he has averaged 109 receiving yards. He's built like a brick wall and is fast as hell. He ranks third in NFL with 47 catches, third with 763 receiving yards, and is tied for second with six touchdown catches. Owens just made his 100th touchdown. He is arguably the the best receiver in the NFL right now.

Every sport has their bad-boy (John Rocker, anyone?). But T.O. denigrates the already poor image of professional football bringing it to a new low. On top of the Vikings' party-boat fiasco and the two Carolina cheerleaders arrested for having sex in a public bathroom, T.O.'s TWO suspensions do nothing but hurt the NFL. This second time, the Eagles finally had enough. He publicly criticized the management and starting quarterback of the team. And, this second time, the hand that fed was finally gnawed on long enough. Owens has been suspended for the rest of the season and will not play with Philly next year. This will end up costing him $191,176 (only 1/17 of his $3.25 million salary for the 2005 season).

I, among many, feel this was a perfect decision. His showboating and the criticizing of his teammates shouldn't be tolerated. His apology was three sentences long and was less than heartfelt. I have no sympathy for his fate. I'm sure he can make up for the monetary loss by selling wristbands on his own website. I do, however, have sympathy for Philly. They have lost a great receiver, but I'm certain it's for the best.

A Lack Of Control

France Riots
America Defends

Call them "rednecks" or whatever you choose. The simple truth of it is we have our right to defend ourselves and our nation against uprisings. Supporters of gun laws note the lack of gun-deaths in places such as France. Now, however, it looks like their lack of defense is eating away at their nation.

Don't forget your Second Amendment rights.

A Democratic Temper Tantrum

The Democratic leadership in the Senate surprised us all on Tuesday when they pulled out Rule 21. This shuts down the Senate for a closed-door session and debate. Their reason: Find out what actually happened in the lead-up to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Apparently, the left still thinks Bush Administration lied to get us into the war. If Bush lied, I submit to you some other people that deserve the same type of investigation for "lying" about weapons of mass destruction.

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.

"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line." President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998.

"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.

"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force-- if necessary -- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security." Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002.

"The community of nations may see more and more of the very kind of threat Iraq poses now: a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, ready to use them or provide them to terrorists. If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow." Bill Clinton in 1998

"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandates of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them." Carl Levin, Sept 19, 2002

"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies." Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999.

“If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction program.” President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998

“He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983.”
Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998

“We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country.”
Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

“We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.”
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002

“The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons…” Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002

“In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program.
He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.” Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

The same people who criticize the war in Iraq are the same who supported the war. If the American people were lied to, I would assume the most decent thing to do would be to hold all people who supported the war and voted for it accountable. Some would say that the above-mentioned got their intelligence from the CIA and therefore the administration had lied to them about the facts leading up to the war. However, look at the dates of some of the quotes - 1998 and 1999. Had Clinton started a preemptive attack on Hussein with the best evidence we had, would the Democratic leadership shut down the Senate for fourteen days? I'll let you answer that question.

We all hear the claim "Bush lied. Soldiers died." I don't, however, hear the names of those mentioned above inserted into the quote.